Tonalist came flying with a big late run Nov. 28 to win the $670,000 Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack, edging out Red Vine in a photo finish after tracking far back under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.
Blinkers will go back on Tonalist, who comes off a fifth in the 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), as he takes on defending Cigar Mile winner Private Zone after that rival's second in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).
Trainer Christophe Clement was in good spirits Nov. 22 when discussing Tonalist and Red Vine, his dual threat for the $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) Nov. 28 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The horse who ran fourth in the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) will get a chance to run that same distance on dirt in the Nov. 28 Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Robert Evans' Tonalist, fifth in the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), will likely start next in the Nov. 28 Cigar Mile (gr. I). Also, a deal in 2014 for Lane's End to acquire an interest in the colt has been canceled.
Private Zone, runner-up to Flat Out in the 2013 edition of the Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I), returned Nov. 29 to claim victory going wire to wire in the $753,750 event at Aqueduct Racetrack.
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Hollywood Derby and Cigar Mile. read blog
While the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) gets the most buzz from the 'best milers make the best sires' adage, the Cigar Mile (gr. I) coming up on Nov. 29 has also produced its fair share of top stallions.
A solid field will line up Nov. 29 for the $500,000 Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack, as grade I winners Secret Circle and Itsmyluckyday face off amongst a cast that includes Private Zone, Vyjack, and Bourbon Courage.
Fields are taking shape for the Nov. 29 Cigar Mile (gr. I) stakes program at Aqueduct Racetrack, featuring four graded events worth a combined $1.7 million.
The 17-year-old son of Mr. Greeley has been purchased by Mr. Tevfik Celikoglu and will stand in Turkey for the 2015 breeding season, it was announced Oct. 14.
Recently retired three-time grade I winner Flat Out will enter stud for 2014 at B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm in Lexington. He will participate in Spendthrift's Share The Upside program and stand for a fee of $10,000.
Three-time grade I winner Flat Out has been retired, owner Art Preston confirmed. Stallion plans are pending.
Evan Hammonds reviews Honor Code, Flat Out, and Will Take Charge vs. Game On Dude. Watch recaps of the Clark Handicap, Cigar Mile, and Remsen Stakes. watch video
Evan Hammonds reviews Honor Code, Flat Out, and Will Take Charge vs. Game On Dude. Watch recaps of the Clark Handicap, Cigar Mile, and Remsen Stakes.
Preston Stables' hard-knocking Flat Out took the overland route to victory Nov. 30 in the Cigar Mile (gr. I), a race worth $753,000 due to the winner's previous grade I-winning status.
Top female sprinter Groupie Doll nearly won the Cigar Mile (gr. I) a year ago. Now she's back with a new slate of rivals to contend with, including grade I winners Goldencents and Verrazano.
TimeformUS Plays for Thanksgiving Weekend, including the Fall Highweight, the Clark, and the Citation. read blog
In her final breeze in preparation for the Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) Nov. 30 at Aqueduct Racetrack, Groupie Doll completed four furlongs in :48.55 on the Belmont Park training track Nov. 25.
Reigning champion female sprinter Groupie Doll breezed a half mile Nov. 16 on the Belmont Park training track as she prepares for her second career start against males in the Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) Nov. 30 at Aqueduct.
Groupie Doll, acquired by Mandy Pope's Whispering Hill Farm Nov. 6 at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, will remain in training for the time being with her longtime conditioner, Buff Bradley.
Goldencents, winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I), will make his next start in the $500,000 Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 30, according to majority owner Glenn Sorgenstein.
Donn Handicap (gr. I) winner Graydar will be forced to miss the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park after a quarter crack in his left front hoof was discovered Monday morning.
Top jock Ramon Dominguez will miss the next three weeks of racing after recently bruising his foot at Aqueduct Racetrack, his agent Steve Rushing said.
Evan Hammonds recaps the Thanksgiving holiday weekend races, including the Remsen S., Cigar Mile, Clark H., and Fall Highweight H. watch video
Notching his first win since the 2011 Travers Stakes (gr. I), Repole Stables' Stay Thirsty got the bob on Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) winner Groupie Doll in the $343,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct Nov. 24.
Charles Fipke's homebred Jersey Town has been scratched from the Nov. 24 Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct with a fever in what was supposed to have been the horse's final start.
Greetings from St. Petersburg, Florida, where after one huge meal and two entertaining NFL games, I am ready to tackle the weekend cards. read blog
Off a smashing victory in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Groupie Doll, from the outside post of 7, challenges a salty cast of older runners in the Nov. 24 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) winner Groupie Doll breezed a half-mile in :48 1/5 at Churchill Downs Nov. 17 in preparation for a possible start against the boys in the $350,000 Cigar Mile (gr. I) Nov. 24.
Potential Clark Handicap (gr. I) highweight Shackleford breezed at Churchill Downs Nov. 17; a decision will be made Nov. 19 regarding his final start. Clark contenders Bourbon Courage and Cease were also on the worktab.
Stay Thirsty, winner of the 2011 Travers Stakes (gr. I), will stand for $17,500 in 2013 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky. The son of Bernardini will contest his final start in the Nov. 24 Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct.
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) winner Groupie Doll was scheduled to go to trainer Buff Bradley's farm earlier this week, but will now prep for a possible start in the Nov. 24 Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct.
Shackleford, the 2011 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner, will likely make one more start before retiring to stud at John Phillips' Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, according to trainer Dale Romans.
Cutting back in distance in search of his first grade I win, To Honor and Serve put away Calibrachoa in upper stretch and held off Hymn Book late to take the Cigar Mile Handicap Nov. 26 at Aqueduct.
With four wins at the track and a strong comeback effort in his most recent start, Haynesfield figures prominently in the $250,000 Cigar Mile (gr. I), which headlines Aqueduct's Nov. 26 program.
Bill Mott is pointing To Honor and Serve to the $250,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) Nov. 26 at Aqueduct.
In a star-studded field that included four Breeders' Cup starters, it was the longest shot on the board, Jersey Town, who pulled a 34-1 shocker in the Hill 'N' Dale Cigar Mile (gr. I) Nov. 27 at Aqueduct.
Four horses coming out of Breeders' Cup races will return for a bang-up edition of the $250,000 Hill 'N' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) Nov. 27 at Aqueduct.
Vinery, which has recently opened a breeding operation in New York, has added stallion Purge to its Empire State line-up.
Son of Posse won the Carter, Vosburgh, and Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile (all gr. I) for Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm
Ridden patiently by Shaun Bridgmohan, Kodiak Kowboy swept past Bribon and Vineyard Haven in deep stretch to win the $300,000 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct Nov. 28.
The defection of both Quality Road and Munnings has left the $300,000 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile (gr. I) with a field of just six -- and only five betting interests -- but the Nov. 28 race at Aqueduct still packs plenty of star power.
It's wait until next year for Quality Road, who will pass on the Nov. 28 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile (gr. I) and instead will point for a 4-year-old campaign, which could begin in the Hal's Hope (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park.
Quality Road's starting gate saga looks as if it could have a happy ending after the colt passed his major test at Aqueduct Saturday morning with flying colors.
Quality Road, whose exploits have been followed closely since his traumatic encounter with the starting gate before the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) cleared a major hurdle Wednesday, schooling at Belmont to the satisfaction of trainer Todd Pletcher and starter Bob Duncan.
Quality Road, who was forced to scratch from the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) after suffering minor injuries during a bad incident at the starting gate, arrived safely at Todd Pletcher's barn at Belmont Park at 6 a.m. Tuesday following an uneventful cross-country van ride from Santa Anita.
Tale of Ekati, off since winning the Hill 'N' Dale Cigar Mile (gr. I) by disqualification last November, will make his return to the racetrack in the $150,000 Richter Scale Sprint (gr. II) Feb. 14 at Gulfstream.
The Cigar Mile cast a dark shadow on the racing world with the tragic death of Wanderin Boy, who shattered the sesamoids in his left-front leg shortly after turning into the stretch.
Stone Farm's Wanderin Boy tops the 20th running of the grade I, $300,000 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile at Aqueduct Nov. 29 as Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito attempts a rare double: winning graded stakes with 7-year-olds on consecutive days.
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